Iran War Threats, Militarization of American Police and Spying on Americans All Started BEFORE 9/11

Many things which we’ve been told have only happened recently actually started a long time ago.

For example, the mainstream media claims that Iran is close to building a nuclear weapon. But the Christian Science Monitor notes that the U.S. has been claiming for more than 30 years[2] that Iran was on the verge of nuclear capability.

Indeed, police shooting peaceful “occupy” protesters with rubber bullets, tear gas and other projectiles and brutally beating them has brought this issue to the attention of the American public. See this[11], this[12]and this[13].

But the militarization of police started long before 9/11 … in the 1980s. As Radley Balko testified [14]before the House Subcommittee on Crime:

Militarization [of police forces is] a troubling trend that’s been on the rise in America’s police departments over the last 25 years.

***

Since the late 1980s, Mr. Chairman, thanks to acts passed by the U.S. Congress, millions of pieces of surplus military equipment have been given to local police departments across the country.

We’re not talking just about computers and office equipment. Military-grade semi-automatic weapons, armored personnel vehicles, tanks, helicopters, airplanes, and all manner of other equipment designed for use on the battlefield is now being used on American streets, against American citizens.

Academic criminologists credit these transfers with the dramatic rise in paramilitary SWAT teams over the last quarter century.

SWAT teams were originally designed to be used in violent, emergency situations like hostage takings, acts of terrorism, or bank robberies. From the late 1960s to the early 1980s, that’s primarily how they were used, and they performed marvelously.

But beginning in the early 1980s, they’ve been increasingly used for routine warrant service in drug cases and other nonviolent crimes. And thanks to the Pentagon transfer programs, there are now a lot more of them.

Many other things which we’ve been told happened after 9/11 actually occurred beforehand as well.

For example:

The Afghanistan war was planned before 9/11 (see this[15] and this[16])

After 9/11 the government drew up the Patriot Act within 20 days and it was passed.

The Patriot Act is huge and I remember someone asking a Justice Department official how did they write such a large statute so quickly, and of course the answer was thatit has been sitting in the drawers of the Justice Department for the last 20 years waiting for the event where they would pull it out.

[18] wanted to invade Iraq long before 9/11, and inserted “crap” in its justifications for invading Iraq.: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/27/AR2007042700550.html?nav=most_emailed

[40] the Co-Chair of the Congressional Inquiry into 9/11 – and former head of the Senate Intelligence Committee – calls for a new 9/11 investigation: http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/09/the-co-chair-of-the-congressional-inquiry-into-911-and-former-head-of-the-senate-intelligence-committee-calls-for-a-new-911-investigation.html

[41] Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg says that the government has ordered the media not to cover 9/11: http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/06/pentagon-papers-whistleblower-daniel-ellsberg-says-that-the-government-has-ordered-the-media-not-to-cover-911.html

[42] high-level officials are eager to spill the beans about what happened on 9/11 … but no one in Washington or the media wants to hear: http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/09/high-level-officials-eager-to-spill-the-beans-about-what-really-happened-on-911-but-no-one-in-washington-or-the-media-wants-to-hear.html

[44] Everything Our Governments Are Doing Now Was Planned BEFORE 9/11: http://www.prisonplanet.com/everything-our-governments-are-doing-now-was-planned-before-911.html

[45] U.S. Government Planned Indefinite Detention of Citizens, Suspension of Constitution, Spying on Americans and Other “Post-9/11 Realities” LONG BEFORE 9/11: http://www.prisonplanet.com/u-s-government-planned-indefinite-detention-of-citizens-suspension-of-constitution-spying-on-americans-and-other-%e2%80%9cpost-911-realities%e2%80%9d-long-before-911.html

[46] Everything Happening Now Was Planned Before 9/11: http://www.prisonplanet.com/everything-happening-now-was-planned-before-911.html

[47] Major General: Why Are Domestic Government Agencies Purchashing Enough Lethal Ammunition to Put 5 Rounds In Every American?: http://www.prisonplanet.com/major-general-why-are-domestic-government-agencies-purchashing-enough-lethal-ammunition-to-put-5-rounds-in-every-american.html